Method of knitting elastic fabric



April 15, 1952 N. H. SMITH 2,592,966

METHOD OF KNITTING ELASTIC FABRIC Original Filed June 15, 1950 A Patented Apr. 15, 1952 METHOD OF KNITTING ELASTIC FABRIC Norman H. Smith, Pawtucket, R. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application June 13,- 1950, Serial No. 167,785. Divided and this application May 11, 1951, Serial No. 225,753

This is a division of application for United States Letters Patent No. 167,785, filed June 13. 1950.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in elastic top hosiery and, in particular, to the selvage edge of the elastic top which unlike that of most elastic tops in current use is composed entirely of elastic yarn. The selvage and adjacent part of the elastic top of this invention is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 and the approximate appearance of the finished edge is shown in Fig. 2. Both of these figures are, of course, greatly enlarged.

Practically all elastic tops in current use are essentially alike in that they consist of plain knitted fabric through the sinker loops of the first course of which an elastic yarn is threaded. This yarn then continues through all of the sinker loops of all or spaced subsequent courses. In other words, the elastic runs in a smooth spiral through the inelastic knitted fabric without any knitted elastic loops whatsoever. A-top of this character, when the elastic is contracted, has the appearance of plain fabric. When it is stretched, it resembles, more or less, 1 x 1 rib fabric. An example of this sort of top will be found in the disclosure of Getaz Patent #2344350.

Unlike this top, the top of this invention has a selvage composed of two diiferent elastic yarns, one of which is inlaid in part and tucked in part and the other of which is knitted. This is followed by the usual' plain fabric. Also, one of the elastic yarns utilized in making the selvage may be inlaid at every fourth wale of every course throughout. This construction results in an elastic top which, when the elastic is contracted, has a decided ribbed appearance which is accentuated when the elastic is stretched and is, consequently, entirely difierent than 1 x 1 rib fabric. The selvage being all elastic has a stretch which is limited only by the strength of the elastic itself and is not restricted, as in present day tops and that of the patent referred to, to the comparative inelasticity of the inelastic fabric. In consequence, if the elastic yarn is incorporated in the selvage under controlled and rather light tension, an extremely soft and comfortable edge is produced. Furthermore, the tendency of the elastic to slip out of some of the loops of the first course, which is a common defect in present day tops, is entirely eliminated by the juxtaposition of elastic against elastic and the manner in which the selvage is formed.

2 Claims. (Cl. 66 9) As shown in Fig. 1, the selvage is started by feeding an elastic yarn l to alternate needles such as 2, 3, 4 and 5 of a circular, independent needle knitting machine. These needles are not permitted to knit and, consequently, two rounds of elastic yarn I are reeled upon them. Then a second elastic yarn 6 is fed to every other one of the alternate needles referred to, such as 3 and 5, and is then knit through both of the strands of elastic yarn l. A second similar course of elastic yarn 6 is then knit but in this case elastic yarn 6 is knitted through itself and not through elastic yarn l in the same wales as before. Thereupon, an inelastic yarn 1 is thrown in and knit on all of the needles as the result of which it is knitted through elastic yarn l which has been held on needles, such as 2, 4., etc., and through elastic yarn 6 in the wales corresponding to needles 3, 5, etc. Thereafter, the knitting of the rest of the top of inelastic yarn continues in the usual way. Also, as shown, elastic yarn I may be inlaid in every course in wales corresponding to needles 3, 5, etc. throughout the top to continue the rib characteristic begun by the selvage.

As far as the selvage is concerned, this inlaying of elastic yarn I last mentioned is not essential but once elastic yarn I has been introduced it is convenient to leave its feed in action to simplify as much as possible the required mechanical steps. In the elastic portion of the top, it is essential that elastic be inlaid as shown in every fourth wale of every course.

It will be noted that the inelastic yarn is joined to elastic yarn I at every fourth wale only and to elastic yarn 6 at every fourth wale only. Also, it will be noted that wales, such as those corresponding to needles 3 and 5, are made runproof by the first course of elastic yarn 6, whereas, wales, such as 2 and 4, are not made runproof until the inelastic yarn is knitted. It will also be noted that this latter characteristic produces tucks of elastic yarn l which combined with the tendency of elastic to straighten out accounts for the rearrangement of the courses made strikingly apparent by Fig. 2.

I claim:

1. The method of knitting an elastic top for hosiery on a circular, independent needle, knitting machine which includes the steps of winding two rounds of an elastic yarn upon every other needle without knitting it, knitting a first course of another elastic yarn upon every other one of said alternate needles and casting ofi said first mentioned elastic yarn from these needles only. knitting a second course of said other elastic yarn through said first course of the same yarn at the same wales only, knitting an inelastic yarn upon all the needles said inelastic yarn being knitted through said other elastic yarn. at the same wales as before and through said first mentioned elastic yarn at wales intermediate those last mentioned.

2. The method of knitting an elastic top for hosiery on a. circular, independent needle, knitting machine which includes the steps of winding two rounds of an elastic yarn upon every other needle without knitting it, knitting a first course of another elastic yarn upon every other one of said alternate needles and casting off said first mentioned elastic yarn from these needles only, knitting a second course of said other elastic yarn through said first course of the same yarn at the same wales only, knitting an inelastic yarn upon all the needles. said inelastic yarn being knitted through said other elastic yarn at the same wales as "before and through said first mentioned elastic yarn at wales intermediate those last mentioned, said first mentioned elastic yarn also being inlaid at every fourth wale of said second course ofsaid other elastic yarn and in the same wales of every subsequent course.

NORMAN H. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Smith, Jr. July 13, 1943 Number 

